I'm not excited to make any big changes says new EC Chairman

PUTRAJAYA: Any changes to the existing electoral exercise has to be based on the Election Commission Act and Federal Constitution.
Responding to queries by quarters seeking to revamp the commission, newly appointed Election Commissions chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah said not everything can be implemented.
"Whatever decision made has to be in accordance to the Federal Constitution and EC Act. We cannot just make changes because we want to," he said, adding if changes, like automatic voter registration and reducing the age of voters, were to be made, there would need to be amendments to the existing laws.
"For example, in other countries, those who do not vote will be fined. If the same is done here, people will get angry," he said.
"Let us do our job. You can criticise us. I am not excited to make any big changes because we are guided by the Malaysian constitution," he told a press conference here today.
Mohd Hashim, who took over the post from Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusoff whose tenure ended on Jan 24, said he would also make official visits to several NGOs, including Bersih 2.0, to gather feedback on public perception, and media outlets on how they can better disseminate information to the voters.
On upcoming Sarawak state elections, he advised voters to check the electoral list and their status to see where they would poll.
"Over 159,871 voters are affected by the additional state seats, from 71 to 82 seats," he said.
He said while the 11th Sarawak state elections was estimated to costs RM181 million, this might be reduced in line with the revised 2016 Budget.
"The EC would ensure the election process will run smoothly," he said.
Mohd Hashim said his vision is to ensure EC remains an independent and non-partisan body, which earns the people's trust and has world-standard recognition.